Dr. Hamish McDonald

Dr. Hamish McDonald is a senior interventional cardiologist at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand's principal tertiary referral centre for cardiovascular disease. With more than 20 years of experience in cardiology, Dr. McDonald is a key member of the Auckland Cardiology team and leads the interventional cardiology programme at Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand's Waitematā and Auckland regions.

Dr. McDonald completed his cardiology training in New Zealand and undertook an international interventional fellowship in the United Kingdom, gaining experience at high-volume cardiac catheterisation centres in London. Since returning to New Zealand, he has established a comprehensive practice in complex coronary intervention, cardiac imaging, and the management of acute coronary syndromes.

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. McDonald holds a senior clinical academic appointment with the University of Auckland's Department of Medicine and supervises cardiology registrars and research students. He also consults privately at Mercy Ascot Hospital, one of Auckland's leading private hospitals.

Dr. McDonald completed his MBChB at the University of Auckland School of Medicine, followed by basic physician and advanced cardiology training through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). He holds FRACP and FCSANZ fellowships.

He completed an interventional cardiology fellowship at King's College Hospital London, one of the United Kingdom's highest-volume interventional centres, where he gained experience in complex PCI, primary PCI for STEMI, and structural interventions. He holds a PhD in Cardiac Physiology from the University of Auckland examining coronary microvascular dysfunction in non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Dr. McDonald's clinical practice covers the full breadth of interventional and general cardiology. He is a high-volume coronary angiographer and PCI operator, with particular expertise in acute STEMI management, complex multi-vessel coronary disease, and rotational atherectomy for heavily calcified lesions.

In cardiac imaging, Dr. McDonald is experienced in echocardiography, exercise and pharmacological stress testing, and the review of coronary CT angiography. He leads Auckland City Hospital's heart failure outpatient programme and contributes to the arrhythmia management team, particularly for atrial fibrillation requiring integrated cardiovascular management.

Dr. McDonald has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications in cardiology journals including Heart, the New Zealand Medical Journal, and Heart, Lung and Circulation. His research focuses on coronary microvascular dysfunction, optimising outcomes in STEMI, and the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

He has received research funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) and the Heart Foundation of New Zealand, and is a regular presenter at CSANZ and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress. He contributes to the New Zealand Heart Foundation's guidelines development committee.

Dr. McDonald sees patients from throughout New Zealand, including those referred from Pacific island nations — particularly Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Niue — where specialist cardiology services are limited or unavailable. Auckland City Hospital maintains referral pathways with Pacific health services and can expedite review for patients travelling from the Pacific.

Video consultations are available for pre-travel assessment and post-procedure follow-up, and Dr. McDonald's team can liaise with local health services in Pacific nations to facilitate ongoing management after patients return home. The hospital's international patient coordinator can assist with travel documentation and scheduling.

Dr. McDonald has received the CSANZ New Zealand Young Investigator Award, a Health Research Council Project Grant, and the University of Auckland Excellence in Teaching Award. He is a sought-after speaker at the New Zealand Cardiac Society meetings and has received recognition from Te Whatu Ora for his leadership in developing Pacific heart health referral pathways.